Ken Stanford

Recent Articles by Ken Stanford

Joint Chiefs: Looming cuts would 'hollow' militaryThe military's top leaders are warning Congress that automatic spending cuts looming in March would force the Pentagon to slash operating budgets, weakening the armed forces and possibly forcing furloughs of 800,000 civilian employees.

Obama's jobs council shutting down ThursdayPresident Barack Obama will let his jobs council expire this week without renewing its charter, winding down one source of input from the business community even as unemployment remains stubbornly high.

Defense nominee Hagel defends his Senate recordPresident Barack Obama's nominee for defense secretary on Thursday defended his views of the military and global threats, pushing back against criticism that has focused on his past statements on Israel, Iran and nuclear weapons. Chuck Hagel told senators that America "must engage - not retreat - in the world," and insisted that his record is consistent on that point.

Judges to host summit on justice for childrenJudges, child welfare workers, juvenile court attorneys, school leaders, foster parents and others have been invited to meet from 10:00-2:15 Friday to a joint effort to improve how they handle cases involving abused and neglected children.

Storms that raked the South taking aim at EastForecasters said severe thunderstorms were expected to continue Thursday morning in the East as the front that brought death and destruction to the South Wednesday slides out over the Atlantic in coming hours. Forecasters also said snowfall was possible in varying amounts from the Great Lakes region through the Northeast.

Senate to clear debt limit increase for ObamaThe Senate is poised to permit the government to borrow hundreds of billions of dollars more to meet its obligations, putting off one Washington showdown even as others loom in coming weeks.

Diplomats: Iran prepared to up nuclear programIran is poised for a major technological update of its uranium enrichment program that would vastly speed up production of material that can be used for both reactor fuel and nuclear warheads, diplomats told The Associated Press Thursday.

Unemployment rates fall in most large US citiesThe Labor Department says unemployment rates fell in more than three-quarters of the largest U.S. cities in November compared with the same month a year ago, evidence modest hiring is benefiting most areas of the country.

Study sees prostate cancer treatment side effectsA new study shows how important it is for men to carefully consider treatments for early-stage prostate cancer. Fifteen years after surgery or radiation treatment, nearly all of the older men in the study had some problems having sex.

Giffords pleads for gun curbs; NRA fights backSeverely wounded and still recovering, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords begged lawmakers at an emotional hearing Wednesday to act quickly to curb firearms because "Americans are counting on you." Not everyone agreed, underscoring the national political divide over gun control.